NEWARK — A thwarted terror plot intended to target two Jewish places of worship in Chicago has placed some New Jersey residents attending services today on high alert.

At Ahavas Sholom, Newark’s oldest operating synagogue, Saturday services went on as usual, but Rabbi Simon Rosenbach said he’ll soon ask administrators to pay more mind about what comes in the mail.

"I don’t think anyone would ever target us, but I suppose if we get mail without a return address we should think twice about it," said Rosenbach, who is also an assistant Middlesex County prosecutor. "It’s terrible that it’s something we still have to concern ourselves with."

Officials Friday investigated cargo planes at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport and a UPS truck in Brooklyn after two potentially explosive devices were intercepted in Dubai and the United Kingdom. The devices originated in Yemen and were supposed to reach two Jewish places of worship in Chicago.

No explosives have been found in the United States. Investigators say the foiled plot bears the hallmarks of al-Qaeda.

Doris Spector, of West Orange, said the knowledge of Friday’s findings "raises your level of awareness" when attending Saturday service.

"It certainly does enter your frame of consciousness," she said. "You wonder if something terrible could happen here or at another synagogue."

For Yehuda BenLewi, fears have entered his subconscious. The Newark resident said he has had recurring dreams of attacks occurring at a synagogue. After today’s service, he wondered aloud if some kind of attack at a Jewish place of worship in the United States is "inevitable."

"It’s sad that people have to resort to attacking non-militant targets, targets that have nothing to do with whatever they’re against — people who want to live," BenLewi said. "This synagogue is made of people of mixed background. And from my background, Morocco, Jews and Muslims live together and have respect for each other. It seems like it’s some political battle that they’re bringing to the private sector. Why?"

At Newark Liberty International Airport, travelers expressed some concern over the search of an airport cargo plane but most said the discovery of devices abroad did not stop their flight plans.

"Let’s face it, we live in a bad world and everyone needs to keep their things by them and not take rides from strangers — the stuff our parents taught us," said Terry Smith, 57, of Iuka, Miss., who arrived at a Texas airport an hour early for her trip to New Jersey. "People are bad and there’s nothing you can do about it."

James Curtis, 67, of Far Hills flew into Newark early this afternoon from West Palm Beach and said he too wasn’t going anguish over the discovery.

"You can’t worry about stuff like that," he said. "You can’t let them ruin your life — you just have to keep on living."

While the federal Transportation Security Administration requires all cargo placed on passenger planes to be screened, packages on UPS freighter planes do not have to be checked, according to the company’s website.

Nyeema Johnson of South Orange said the screening process of packages on freighter planes needs to be stricter.

"If they’re going to screen us, then it should be the same kind of thing for packages," said Johnson after grabbing her lone suitcase off a baggage carousel. "There should be random checks."

The airport’s security lines were sparse this afternoon.

Liz Spinowitz lived in the area after 9-11 and said when she heard of the search, she wasn’t too worried about flying into Newark today with her family.

"I feel safe with all the extra security," said Spinowitz, 35, of Las Vegas, adding that she plans to budget extra time for the airport’s security checks on the way home. "This is the society we live in now. If you want to fly, you have to put up with it. It’s fine with me."